"That's enough! Quit treating us like we're foolish!"
Without hesitation, Mochizuki launched a barrage of shuriken and kunai, while Unno surrounded him with smoke bombs for distraction. Together, they executed their moves with precision and remarkable skill, showcasing their expertise in a time of upheaval.
Despite their exceptional skills, Yoichi's unmatched speed and remarkable adaptability overwhelmed both masterful shinobi. Watching Yoichi effortlessly dodge and block their attacks while they struggled against fatigue seemed to stretch on forever.
As time went on, the team's movements became sluggish in comparison to the precise and coordinated actions they had previously displayed, a result of the exhausting battles they had faced earlier.
'It's time to end this!'
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
As Yoichi unleashed his ninjutsu, he experienced a physical toll while five fiery dragons charged toward Mochizuki and Unno in rapid succession, propelled by the fierce winds. Terrified, they sought to flee using Body Flicker.
"Aaarrrgghhh!!! Help me!"
Despite his efforts, Unno was unable to evade the fierce dragons that surrounded him, their fiery breath igniting everything in their path. His cries for assistance echoed in the air, but in the end, he was overwhelmed by the fierce mix of wind and fire, leaving his scorched body unidentifiable.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Mochizuki heard the desperate calls but didn't look back at his friend; he just ran out of Yoichi's view. His mind was too caught up in the chaos he had just experienced to think about avenging his friend.
As long as he was alive, he knew there would always be a chance for revenge later.
"One down, one to go." Yoichi spotted Mochizuki and pursued him relentlessly.
Even though he was fatigued from the earlier battles, he was determined to clear away all the threats in front of him first. The insurgent group had retreated in defeat, having lost significantly against the elite clans.
"Peek-a-boo!" Without a word, Yoichi quickly took Mochizuki's head off. He was only looking for some well-deserved rest, so he left right away.
The Miyoshi Brothers and the Rokurō Rebels all met their end at Yoichi's hands, never even getting close enough to graze his clothes.
"Oh, right, Shirakumo..." Yoichi reflected. "Anyway, I should get back. My friends are waiting for me."
->->->->->->->->->->->
"How could none of you have heard about this latest attack? Almost all of us, including the daimyo, thought we were done for after that onslaught!"
"Maybe Tajima knows something about it. He and his clan have had friendly ties with all three of those clans in the past!"
"Tajima, can you shed some light on this? I'm certain you weren't linked to the earlier attack, but we really need some details to clarify things..."
In a large courtyard, some surviving shinobi enjoyed their well-deserved drinks and relished the calm, while the tension among the clan leaders was mounting, with the Uchiha Clan Leader feeling the pressure.
"I don't know," Tajima admitted candidly, while the others narrowed their eyes, forming their own judgments.
They were skeptical of Tajima's claimed ignorance.
Instead, doubt began to creep in, as their minds filled with theories and assumptions, leading them to cling to misguided beliefs without any solid proof.
Such destructive circumstances cannot be allowed to happen again; the clan leaders and high-ranking officials will always keep control at the forefront of their minds.
"Blaming game again?! How about trying not to find some people to be crucified? Impossible?"
In his new form, Yoichi took a seat and scoffed at the incompetent fools around him, while the others seethed with embarrassment and ground their teeth in response to the visitor's comments.
Their alliance had suffered due to the rebel group, and now somebody needed to be the scapegoat with a worthy example: Uchiha Clan.
"What are you talking about, Yoichi-kun?! We're just trying to get Tajima's thoughts!" Kosuke Sarutobi defended himself against the accusations, exchanging glances with his close friends.
"We need to gather any evidence without hesitation, Yoichi-kun. The daimyo and other officials can't afford to rest with these rebels on the loose!"
"You clearly don't understand this situation. So, let us handle it ourselves, Yoichi-kun."
One by one, the clan leaders voiced their opinions, forming a united front against Yoichi and his accusations towards the esteemed elders. They even tried to shift the blame onto Yoichi and the incredibly convenient inventions of Genesis Bank.
While they sounded virtuous, these leaders were just as deceitful as those peddling illegal drugs at a gas station. Their words seemed sincere at first, but the meaning became distorted and unrecognizable.
"Are you honestly blaming us for what happened earlier? How ridiculous! Don't try to deny it; you're all too weak! Pointing fingers just shows how fragile you all are as leaders! Pathetic!"
In a moment of rage, Yoichi's loud and direct voice echoed through the courtyard, every word piercing the air and humiliating the chiefs with his harsh, yet impactful, comments.
"You're nothing but an adopted outsider from the Murakami Clan! How dare you talk down to us?!"
Kosuke Sarutobi believed he had earned his place in the clan through relentless hard work, striving to surpass the achievements of his ancestors.
Now, a mere outsider had insulted him in front of his peers—how could he possibly tolerate such blatant disrespect?
"That's enough, Kosuke!" Butsuma interrupted, sensing the rising hostility radiating from Yoichi. Tajima also wanted to speak up, but before he could do anything, Yoichi vanished in an instant.
"Kuooookk!!!"
Crashing against the wall, Kosuke felt a wave of pain surge through him and glanced at Yoichi's grin, panic etched on his face. The brutal kick had sent him flying like a ragdoll and slammed him into the stone wall, shaking him from his earlier anger.
Meanwhile, the clan leaders were sweating profusely, gulping in disbelief and fear. The decisive blow had been delivered in the blink of an eye, eluding the radar of these seasoned veterans—a true reflection of Yoichi's reputation as the Phantom.
"Father, what's going on here?!" Sasuke Sarutobi arrived late, appearing concerned but secretly pleased to see his father brought low.
"I struck him, Sasuke..." Yoichi confessed. "Thankfully, he didn't bring up my parents' names, or else someone's head will roll right here! Anyways, see ya!"
With his formidable aura, Yoichi departed without another word, leaving the others to breathe a collective sigh of relief. Initially, they thought Yoichi was joking in past interactions, but the harsh reality of this embarrassing incident hit hard.
Yet, Tajima, Butsuma, and the elite shinobi around viewed someone of Yoichi's caliber with deep admiration, while lesser clans seethed with resentment and anger in their eyes.
(A/N: Sorry for lowering the words for 1k above. I just noticed that having 1.5k words felt like a stretch without any substance in each sentence so I merely adjusted. I will be having that kind of wording around 1k to 1.5k words now. Thanks for reading XDD!)